"My first thought was, 'Y'all are messing with me,'" he said, noting that he immediately told his wife, actress Jenna Dewan-Tatum.

Tatum said, "She was like, 'What?'"

"Yeah, she calls me [the Sexiest Man Alive] now," he added.

Tatum graces the cover of this week's People, which hits newsstands on Friday. In the interview, he opens up about starting a family soon.

"I'm ready; I think she's ready," Tatum said about his wife, whom he married in 2009. "The first number that pops into my head is three, but I just want one to be healthy and then we'll see where we go after that."

Meanwhile, Tatum is currently getting in shape to portray an Olympian in the upcoming film, "Foxcatcher."

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Actor Channing Tatum arrives at a press conference for 'G.I. Joe The Rise Of The Cobra' at Simmer On The Bay on July 20, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Channing Tatum in "G.I. Joe: The Rise Of The Cobra"(credit: Paramount Pictures)

Channing Tatum in "G.I. Joe: The Rise Of The Cobra"(credit: Paramount Pictures)

AAFES Hosts A Special Screening Of "G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra"

CAMP SPRINGS, MD - JULY 31: Actor Channing Tatum (L) shakes a hand of a U.S. soldier during a special screening of "G.I. JOE: RISE OF COBRA" at Andrews Air Force Base on July 31, 2009 in Camp Springs, Maryland. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)

Channing Tatum Named 'Sexiest Man Alive'

NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Actor Channing Tatum with his GI Joe character toy during a visit to fuse's "No. 1 Countdown" at fuse Studios on August 4, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Actor Channing Tatum arrives at the Hilton Courthouse Hotel to introduce a screening for his new film 'Fighting' on May 7, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Universal)

Channing Tatum Promotes His New Film 'Fighting'

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Actor Channing Tatum arrives at the Hilton Courthouse Hotel to introduce a screening for his new film 'Fighting' on May 7, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Universal)

Rogue Pictures Presents "Fighting" New York Premiere

NEW YORK - APRIL 20: Actor Channing Tatum attends the premiere of "Fighting" at the Regal Union Square Stadium 14 on April 20, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)